Time for an Affordable Housing Act?

“It is an immense struggle to keep the kids fed and housed. We need the federal government to support more affordable housing and invest in fixing up existing housing stock.”

“After my accident, I faced many barriers. I had to go to a shelter with my son before I could get subsidized housing. The amount of money I received wasn’t sufficient and the wait list was very long.”

“Housing forms a base, provides stability, and helps families access other services, such as childcare. If you don’t know where you’ll live next week, you can’t focus on anything else.”

Housing. It is an issue that is named over and over again as a critical element – perhaps the most important piece – in the promotion of well-being. Access to adequate, suitable, and affordable housing provides a foundation for individuals and families; it is something that everyone needs, regardless of age, gender, race, occupation, or station in life. Housing is a key factor in physical and mental health. It is an essential aspect of security and family cohesiveness. It provides the starting point from which people engage in the life of their community, access public services, and build their future. It is also a fundamental human right.

Just over a year ago, in April 2009, Libby Davies (MP, Vancouver East) introduced her private member’s bill for a “Secure, Adequate, Accessible and Affordable Housing Act” (Bill C-304). If passed, this legislation will require the establishment of a national housing strategy. A strategy developed in consultation with the provinces and other stakeholders that guarantees the right to safe, secure, adequate, affordable and accessible housing for all Canadians.

Conversations with people living in poverty, health care practitioners, politicians, and parish priests and ministers have confirmed the urgent need that Bill C-304 addresses. In 2006 (the latest year for which census data is available) over 40% of all renter households in Canada were living in core housing need – that is, spending more than 30% of their gross income on housing. Not surprisingly, the situation has worsened with the recession. Between October 2008 and October 2009, average monthly rents for a two bedroom apartment rose 2.3%, compared to a 0.1% inflation rate.

The unavailability of quality, affordable housing in neighbourhoods that are safe and well-serviced relates closely to a range of challenges. The high cost of housing imposes budgetary constraints that result in less money for nutritious foods and proper clothing. Unstable housing can contribute to increased difficulties at school and work. The stress, stigma, isolation, and discrimination that come with housing insecurity undermine self-esteem. And, precarious housing is often the last stop on the way to homelessness.

Until the early 1990s, the federal government accepted housing as part of its mandate. Now, Canada is the only major industrialized country without a national housing strategy.

A few housing initiatives have been undertaken over the last decade, but they have been insufficient to address what the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing called “a national housing and homelessness crisis.”

As witnesses to this burgeoning crisis, the UN Human Rights Council, the Senate Subcommittee on Cities, and civil society organizations from across Canada have all called for a comprehensive national housing strategy.

Citizens for Public Justice strongly supports this call and believes that a national housing strategy is a core element of a comprehensive poverty elimination plan. Public justice demands that all people have access to the necessary goods and services to maintain their dignity as human beings. Governments have a responsibility to ensure access to affordable housing in their work to promote the well-being, protect the rights of the marginalized and support others in responding to housing needs in the community. They also must ensure that income support programs are sufficient so that recipients are able to meet their needs. At CPJ we believe that a comprehensive housing strategy should include funding to build affordable housing, to maintain and renovate existing houses, and to invest in social housing, transitional and supportive housing.

So has the time come for a comprehensive long-term strategy to tackle housing insecurity and homelessness?

Having survived the bumps and curves of second reading, committee discussion, and prorogation, an amended version of the Affordable Housing Act was reported to the House of Commons on March 24 and is on its way to third reading. It all looks promising. Sort of. Despite having had multi-party support at second reading, the progress of the bill has hit a snag.

Most of the amendments made in committee are widely seen as adding significant strength to the proposed legislation. However, the addition of an opt-out clause for Quebec may cause the bill to fall on a point of procedure. This amendment has been challenged in Parliament on the grounds that it is inconsistent with the purpose of Bill C-304 and therefore inadmissible.

The first hour of debate on C-304 is tentatively scheduled for April 28.

Civil society organizations across the country are rallying in support of this bill. Housing and human rights advocates have highlighted the need for representatives of all political stripes to support this tremendously important initiative. Not only would it serve as landmark legislation by acknowledging the right to housing, it would also provide a valuable model for future legislative efforts to address poverty, its causes, consequences, and complexities.